Page:The Classical Heritage of the Middle Ages.djvu/337

 x] ANTIQUE CHRISTIAN PAINTINQ 319 combs range from the end of the first to the middle of the fourth century, when the catacombs ceased to be used as burial-places.^ The subjects are largely Bibli- cal. The Old Testament scenes most frequently rep- resented are: The Fall (Adam and Eve) (13 times); Noah in the Ark (26 times) ; Sacrifice of Isaac (15 times) ; Moses smiting the Rock (47 times) ; the Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace (19 times) ; Daniel among the Lions (32 times) ; the Story of Jonas (45 times). From the New Testament : Adoration of the Magi (12 times); the Healing of the Paralytic (12 times) ; Miracle of the Loaves (23 times) ; Raising of Lazarus (39 times) ; also a number of representations of Christ and the Twelve. Less frequent Biblical subjects are: Moses receiving the Tables of the Law, Moses taking off his Shoes ; and among others from the New Testament, the Healing of the Blind Man, and Christ and the Woman of Samaria. Repasts are frequently represented, and family scenes, and a large number of female figures praying (Orantes). Most frequent of all is the figure of Christ as the Good Shepherd (85 times) carrying a sheep.* Besides the foregoing there are many paintings of objects animate or inanimate, as the fish, dove, lamb, peacock, lamp, ship, palm. These were symbols of the Christian faith. But were the Biblical scenes, especially those of the Old Testament, intended as allegorical? Probably no single categorical answer wUl correctly cover this question. 1 There are aUo pietares in them painted by pious handa in tho three or four centuries following. < Hennecke, AUchrUtliche MaUrti, p. 123.